Grilled chicken served with fresh vegetables and traditional Indonesian sambal terasi, a truly appetizing dish

Grilled chicken served with fresh vegetables and traditional Indonesian sambal terasi, a truly appetizing dish.

Indonesian Grilled Chicken with Sambal Terasi and Fresh Vegetables

Indonesia is well known for its rich culinary heritage. From the western tip of Sumatra to the eastern part of Papua, every region has unique dishes with unforgettable flavors. One of the most iconic and beloved Indonesian foods, enjoyed by both locals and international visitors, is grilled chicken served with sambal terasi and fresh vegetables.

This dish may look simple, but it carries an explosion of flavors. The smoky and sweet-savory grilled chicken combined with spicy sambal terasi and refreshing raw vegetables (lalapan) makes a perfect balance of taste. No wonder many Indonesian restaurants abroad feature this menu as their signature dish.

What Is Grilled Chicken with Sambal Terasi?

• Grilled Chicken: Chicken marinated with spices, cooked until tender, then grilled over charcoal or a pan until golden brown. Traditionally, Indonesian grilled chicken uses sweet soy sauce, giving it a caramelized, sweet-savory flavor.
• Sambal Terasi: A traditional Indonesian chili paste made from chili peppers, shallots, garlic, tomato, salt, sugar, and terasi (fermented shrimp paste). It has a strong aroma and delivers a deep, authentic umami taste.
• Lalapan (Fresh Vegetables): Fresh cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, and basil leaves, usually served raw to balance the spiciness of sambal.

A Short History of Indonesian Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken has been a part of Indonesian food culture for centuries, with different variations across the archipelago:

• Javanese Grilled Chicken – sweet soy sauce as the main seasoning.
• Padang Grilled Chicken – rich in coconut milk and spicy flavors.
• Taliwang Grilled Chicken – from Lombok, known for its fiery chili paste.
• Kalasan Grilled Chicken – from Yogyakarta, savory-sweet with special seasoning.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Sambal Terasi

Ingredients for Grilled Chicken:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into 8–10 pieces
• 5 tbsp sweet soy sauce
• 2 tbsp cooking oil or margarine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
• 200 ml water
• Salt, pepper, and chicken stock powder to taste

Spice Paste:

• 6 shallots
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 candlenuts, roasted
• 1 thumb-size piece ginger
• 1 thumb-size piece turmeric

Ingredients for Sambal Terasi:

• 10 red chilies
• 5 bird’s eye chilies (optional, for extra heat)
• 3 shallots
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tomato
• 1 tsp roasted shrimp paste (terasi)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp palm sugar
• Cooking oil

Fresh Vegetables (Lalapan):

• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Fresh basil leaves

How to Cook

1. Grilled Chicken: Sauté the spice paste until fragrant, add lemongrass and bay leaves. Add chicken pieces, stir until coated. Pour sweet soy sauce, salt, pepper, stock powder, and water. Cook until the chicken is tender and the sauce thickens. Grill over charcoal or a non-stick pan while brushing with the remaining sauce until caramelized.
2. Sambal Terasi: Fry chilies, shallots, garlic, and tomato until softened. Grind together with roasted shrimp paste, salt, and palm sugar. Add a little hot oil for extra aroma.
3. Serve: Arrange grilled chicken on a plate with sambal terasi and fresh vegetables on the side.

Why Do Foreigners Love This Dish?

• Authentic Indonesian Taste: The combination of sweet soy sauce and shrimp paste sambal is unique and unforgettable.
• Balanced Flavor: Sweet, savory, spicy, and fresh all in one plate.
• Healthy and Natural: Fresh vegetables add vitamins and fiber.
• Customizable: The level of spiciness can be adjusted to suit everyone’s taste.

Nutritional Value

• High protein from chicken
• Fiber and vitamins from vegetables
• Antioxidants from chili and tomato
• Lower fat compared to fried chicken

Grilled Chicken and Sambal Terasi as Indonesian Culinary Icons

Many Indonesian restaurants abroad proudly feature grilled chicken and sambal as their signature dish. To make it easier for foreigners, this dish is often introduced as “Indonesian Grilled Chicken with Chili Paste (Sambal Terasi)”.

Conclusion

Grilled chicken with sambal terasi and fresh vegetables is more than just food – it’s an authentic Indonesian cultural experience. With its smoky aroma, balanced flavors, and fiery chili paste, this dish has the power to make anyone fall in love with Indonesian cuisine.

Keywords: Indonesian grilled chicken, sambal terasi, Indonesian food recipe, authentic Indonesian cuisine, Indonesian chili paste, Indonesian traditional food.

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